Lacy Things by Yvonne Eros Page B

looking at her and her only, she moved with even more purpose toward him with her body practically dancing down the aisles.  He moved back and forth along that far wall, and she moved to block his retreat.  Their game of cat and mouse brought a smile to her face, even if he was a willing victim.
    Before long, there was only one aisle between Krystal and the back wall of the store.   One column separated her from the handsome admirer, and there was no way for either of them to hide their interest.  Smirks and glances were traded as often as their feet tapped the linoleum floor, until they were directly across from each other, only a long metal carriage keeping their bodies apart.
    “So, do you buy lingerie often?” Krystal flirted.
    He smiled, but she was more attracted to that rosy complexion that appeared beneath his coarse five o’clock shadow, just beyond his dimples.
    “I don’t even have a good excuse to be here,” he said, bringing his arm up to nervously rub the base of his neck behind him.  “I followed you in about ten minutes ago.”
    His answer hit her hard.  She was suddenly alarmed by his intentions and felt foolish at playing their game, but she tried her best to compose herself.  “What do you mean you followed me in?  I’ve been shopping for the past half hour.”
    He looked down, almost looking embarrassed by her question.  “I saw you walking around in the mall.  You looked too good to pass up.”
    It was her turn to blush, but she lowered her head, trying to remove that warm, fuzzy sensation she was feeling.  Her whole body shook from pins and needles, and her wide smile almost hurt her cheeks.  He hadn’t been there to stalk just any woman… he specifically went out of his way to follow her, and she found herself loving the attention.
    “I’m Krystal,” she said, extending her arm over the metal barrier.
    He returned the gesture, gently taking her hand in his.   “John,” he said.  She could feel his hand shifted slightly inward, almost bracing her palm.  “Sorry if this is a little weird.”
    “Could be worse,” she offered.  “You could be shopping here for another girl.”
    He laughed, and her knees quivered just a bit.  Even that sounded powerful and steady, nearly shaking her from her feet.  “I wouldn’t even know what I would do in that situation.  I don’t think guys really know what anything would look like on until they see a girl wearing it.”
    “I could model some things for you,” she said.  Her surprise at having said the words instantly made it feel like she was doing flips, her stomach seeming to float upward.  His shock at hearing the words paid off even more.  Instead of saying anything, he just stood there, his lips parting as his jaw dropped.  Gotcha, she thought.
    “Of course, if you think it’d be too much of a tease, I can just look at these by myself,” Krystal continued, fingering through a few of the articles she’d acquired on her adventure toward that back corner.
    “I didn’t know that you could do that in these places,” he stammered.
    She flicked her eyebrows, smiling radiantly at him again.  “There’s a whole dressing room over there, with private stalls inside.”
    “Have you done it in there before?” he stammered again, probably realizing how the statement had sounded.  “I mean, you’re sure it would be ok?” John asked.
    Krystal rolled her eyes, a grin parting her lips, and reached over the basket in front of her, gripping his hand again.  She led him to the adjacent row, until they stood side by side.  She pulled closer toward him, letting go of his hand, and inching her fingers up his arm.  She felt every soft touch of the short hairs on his arm.  She stuck her hand through the empty space between his elbow and his chest, and grabbed him tightly.  His muscles were flexed, and she could feel his taut bicep beneath his shirt.
    She nearly swooned there, but she had the upper hand.  She had the